Work

Enjoy being outdoors! The main task of the project will be to improve the outdoor infrastructure so that even more people enjoy spending their leisure time outdoors and in nature. • You will be installing benches at various points along the edge of paths or forests - in some places this will first require clearing work and the construction of a foundation, while in other places existing wooden benches or picnic areas will simply be renovated. • You will renovate a wooden shelter for hikers. This includes woodwork and painting as well as wood and roof maintenance. • To motivate children in particular to spend their free time outdoors, you will maintain an existing playground in the middle of the forest and add some new play equipment. • To complete all these small tasks you will also improve the surrounding of your accommodation. This will include landscape gardening and renovation work. The group of volunteers will be split up in the two different tasks every day. You are also invited to support the local festival team during their village party.

Partner

Schwarzerden is a small village with 430 inhabitants and already experienced in welcoming international volunteers. After six successful international IBG workcamps they again invite a group of volunteers to support them to improve the local infrastructure and to enrich the village festival on July 12th to 14th. The previous camps have always been a big fun for the volunteers and the locals.

Location

The workcamp will take place in the small village Schwarzerden, which belongs to the community of Freisen. Freisen is situated in the north of Saarland in a rural area. You can find many interesting places in Freisen: a historical railway, cultural and natural sights, a small zoo, a spa bath (but only few of them in Schwarzerden). The local villagers are already looking forward to getting to know you and to welcoming you at the local village festival. We will do our best to arrange excursions with the support of locals but due to the poot public transport they will for sure be limited. The project is perfect for volunteers who enjoy being outside and in nature.

Accomodation

The accommodation provided is the former centre of the sports club of Schwarzerden. It is now in public use for bigger events in this village. All necessary facilities are a hall for sleeping, a kitchen, toilettes, showers… Camping beds are provided but please bring your sleeping bag! If the weather is fine, you have the opportunity to eat and chill outside. Attention: This place is quite isolated; the village of Schwarzerden is 1km away. Next to the accommodation you can find the sports ground, you can use it whenever you want. You will have a beautiful view over the valley; you will be surrounded by forests and meadows. Just make a campfire and enjoy nature. Please bring your own sleeping bag and pillow (if required). Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Meeting point

Please check www.bahn.com for a connection from anywhere in Germany to “Schwarzerden Bahnhof, Freisen”. This bus stop is only 300m from your accommodation. You will travel by train to St. Wendel and change to the bus No. 604. Please make sure to arrive in St. Wendel before 20.25 p.m. to reach the last bus of the day to Schwarzerden

Work

Come and volunteer in a summer village for different (age) groups! Over 2 weeks of various activities await you while you assist in a summer camp for children, teenagers and young families near Cologne! The summer village officially opens on the 13th of July. Prior to that, the local team has already built up the infrastructure of the area. All the tents, sanitary facilities and common areas are mostly set up on your arrival the day before the official opening. You might be asked to lend a hand in the very final stages of preparation. Your job then will be to work together with the local team and provide different types of activities and workshops for the participants. The children should be able to try out different types of sport, creative (group) activities, do arts and crafting or simply chill or play games. In the first week (TogeZer 14.-18.7.) the participants are children and young people with or without mental disabilities. The young people might be older (up to 18), but the developmental age is up to 12. For this week the team is also supported by professionals from an NGO working with people with disabilities and integration assistants. In the second week (KidZ 21.-26.7.) the program caters for children aged 7 to 12. The third week (TeenZ 27.7.-01.8.) consists of a program for teenagers. Aside from helping with the program, there will also be “backstage” tasks, such as taking shifts in the “bar” or cleaning the sanitary facilities. Another responsibility is the night duty: Since the participants are under-age, someone always needs to stay awake. Don’t worry, you won’t need to stay up the whole night and you won’t need to do it alone. It can easily turn into a nice long campfire-evening with friends. It is very important to the local team that you feel and become part of one big group of teamers.

Partner

Woanders e.V. is a non-profit organization which wants to reach people of all ages, support cross-generational interaction and contact between people from different areas of life. Their work intends to reduce fear of contact and support tolerance and curiosity for other people, by strengthening the team-spirit “We”. Each summer for over a month, they organize a camping village full of activities for different age groups. This year the program starts with a week dedicated to children and young people with or without mental disabilities. The young people might be older (up to 18), but the developmental age is up to 12. The next week contains a kids-program for children aged 7 to 12, which is followed by a week of camping for teenagers (12-15 years old) which ends in long weekend for adolescents (14+). (After the end of this project the program does continue with a second week of camping for children, followed by a week for families and finally the dismantling of the whore area until next year. The second group of volunteers is arriving on the 1st of August you will help in facilitating their arrival phase.) You can find the camp village schedule here: www.woanders.org/zeltstadt/ Participants usually stay there for a full week, most of them will stay overnight in tents and have their meals there as well. It is a project aimed mostly towards children and teens with fewer opportunities but it is open to people from all backgrounds. Priority is given to participants from nearby communities. Since 2020 we successfully support this project with small groups of international volunteers and the local team is looking forward to meet new international friends. By volunteering in this project, you are contributing to a sustainable and inclusive community (UN SDG 11).

Location

The camp village is situated on a meadow surrounded by trees a bit outside of the town of Bergheim. In Bergheim, you can find different shops and cafés, and Bergheim itself is only 20km away from Cologne. On your days off you can therefore visit Cologne, which is the fourth most populous city of Germany, famous for its cathedral and the Roman-Germanic museum. You can also go on trips to other nearby towns, for example to Bonn.

Accomodation

You will sleep in big group tents on the camp village site. Camp mats will be provided, but please bring your own sleeping bag! There are showers and sanitary facilities available, but the accommodation itself is quite basic. There will be no need for cooking since you will be eating together with the local team and the participants, so everything will be provided, but of course it is expected that you may help with cleaning and so on. You can get a glimpse of the project area on the homepage of the association, where you can find pictures from the previous years: https://www.woanders.org/fotos/

Requirements

We ask for a motivation letter to be sent with the application! Previous experience in working with children and/or people with disabilities will be very helpful. Since the project involves children, you need to provide a certificate of good conduct before the start of the project. This project is a Volunteering Team within the European Solidarity Corps program. Volunteers have to have legal residency in an EU country, there is a strict age limit of 18 to 30 years. The participation to the ESC Volunteering Teams is subject to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (not sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project and will receive a financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established in accordance with their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets; - Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the ESC Portal; then IBG will organise their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project; - Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 7€/day, once they arrive on the project; - Volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the por

Meeting point

You have to arrive in Paffendorf train station. Please check for connections from anywhere to Paffendorf www.bahn.com/en. From there it is only a 15 minute walk to the camp village. There will be someone waiting to accompany you.

Work

Help the community of Lauterbach in preserving its beautiful forest and wildlife-rich open land! Lauterbach has many nature conservation areas to offer and your support is needed for various tasks. During this workcamp, you will work in the forest and open land, helping the municipality maintain wet meadow; an important habitat for rare species of flora and fauna. This involves removing mown material from the meadow by hand. The municipality is also responsible of the preservation of a hiking trail, so additionally, you may also assist in sanding, cutting or paving paths, renewing steps and painting hiking trail bridges. Be prepared for hard physical work! Due to working in swampy (boggy) and steep areas, sturdy boots are required for effective work! The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. You will work 30 hours per week, between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday with a lunchbreak.

Partner

This will be the 16th time that the community of Lauterbach and the local Landscape Development Association host a workcamp. They appreciate the contributions of international volunteers and are very excited to welcome support for different environmental construction tasks in protected natural area! Besides the obvious valuable help from the workcamp group, they are also very happy to share their knowledge about forest preservation to foreign volunteers. By volunteering in this project, you are actively protecting nature and biodiversity (UN SDG 15).

Location

Lauterbach is a village with 3000 inhabitants located on the edge of the Black Forest nature park, surrounded by greenery and breath-taking landscapes right at your doorstep! The village has so many scenic viewpoints to enjoy the beauty of the countryside. You will have many possibilities for hiking and immersing yourself in nature. In your free time, you can also visit the popular nearby cities like Rottweil, Schramberg or the student city of Freiburg.

Accomodation

You will stay at the nice community house in the middle of the forest, called ‘’Mosenmättle Guest House’’. There, you will find sanitary facilities, showers a common room with sofas, tables and also a well equipped kitchen for you to use. You will sleep in 4 multi bed rooms (with bunkbeds). As the house is located in a very rural area, the internet access and mobile phone coverage will most probably be limited. Just be prepared to spend two wonderful, adventurous weeks away from your busy and usual life.

Meeting point

On July 12, there will be pickups from Hausach train station in the afternoon. The exact times of the pickups will be given in the specific infosheet. Find the best connection to Hausach on the German railway company’s website: https://www.bahn.com/en

Work

Bring nature back to an old gravel mine! You will support the transformation of an abandoned gravel pit into an ecologically valuable habitat and thus give back to nature what humans have taken from it. The Nellschütz gravel company is creating a habitat with a pond, deadwood, rocks and steep slopes on an area of 4 hectares, providing a new habitat for amphibians, insects and various plants. All these tasks are done in close cooperation with the local authorities for nature protection. The site will also be used for environmental education work with children and young people in the future. Specific tasks will include the construction of a circular path and a green classroom, the creation of a pond, deadwood areas, etc. You will be digging, straightening, planting, sawing and nailing. There will be a wide variety of work with different levels of difficulty. If necessary, workers from the gravel company will support you with heavy machines. A landscape gardener will provide professional guidance.

Partner

With your commitment, you will make an important contribution to the biodiversity and the transformation of former industrial brownfield sites. There are many places in the area south-west of Leipzig where gravel is extracted. This is done in open-cast mining. As soon as a site is exhausted, large desolate-looking holes are left in the landscape. In cooperation with the local nature conservation authorities and the Nellschütz gravel company, we will support the revitalisation of such a gravel pit with this volunteering project. Many people in the region are looking forward to this renaturation and to you. They will support you at work, in your free time, with food etc. and they are looking forward to meeting you. The site will also be used for environmental education by school classes and kindergartens, so a circular route through the site and an outdoor classroom will be build.

Location

Nellschütz is located in the south-west of Leipzig. The nearest larger town is Weißenfels, the meeting point on arrival. Weißenfels is worth a visit, there is a historic old town with various baroque-style buildings, a castle, but also nice shops, bars and cafés... but also many lost places due to the structural change in the region. We will try to offer various excursions. Due to the poor public transport most activities and excursions will be realised with the support of locals. They are already exited in showing you their highlights of the region.

Accomodation

The living conditions will be very basic and sustainable. You will live right next to the gravel pit, about 1km away from the small hamlet of Nellschütz. Specifically, there will be several sleeping tents with camping beds and a pavilion with tables and benches as a common room. Cooking will take place in an improvised outdoor kitchen on an open fire. Instead of a fridge, there will be a dug-out earth cellar. There is a compost toilet and solar showers. Of course there is no wifi. You can also use the showers in the public swimming pool from time to time or swim in the lake. Please bring your sleeping bag. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Requirements

The project is only suitable for people who are comfortable with living and working in the simplest of conditions and want to try out this way of living for a fortnight without too many comforts.

Meeting point

Meeting point will be at Weißenfels train station. Here you will be picked up by your campleaders. We will arrange several pick-up times in the afternoon and early evening. Please arrange your journey in a way that you arrive between 3 pm and 9 pm in Weißenfels. You can check for connections from anywhere to on: www.bahn.com/en.

Notes:

The project is only suitable for people who are comfortable with living and working in the simplest of conditions and want to try out this way of living for a fortnight.

Work

PEACE is the main theme of this project. The workcamp combines volunteering, learning from history, thinking about peace and the exchange with the local villagers in a special way. + Volunteering: There will be various smaller tasks in Hötensleben. You will be doing some maintenance work at the border memorial, mowing and building new wooden seating areas. Other small jobs for the local infrastructure will be added. + Learning from history: You will not only work on the border memorial, but will of course also be given a lot of background information on the history of the Iron Curtain and the division of Germany, as well as going on excursions to other thematically relevant places of interest. Thinking about peace: What is Peace for you? When and how is peace in danger? Share your personal point of view and the reality in your home country with other volunteers and with local villagers. + Exchange with local villagers: Peace will be one topic to share and to discuss, but you will also get to know local associations and be able to exchange ideas about everyday life today. They are very excited to meet you and will be glad to share stories with you about their experience in this border area. It would be great if you can speak a bit of German and/or are able to communicate with a phone translator.

Partner

You will be hosted in a very special village. From 1961 to 1989, the Wall with its martial border fortifications ran right next to the village. It divided Germany into two parts and was part of the so-called Iron Curtain. The people of Hötensleben lived in a restricted zone for almost 30 years and always had the Wall in view. To this day, 400 metres of the border fortifications have been preserved as a memorial and are visited by many visitors. Here you can find an impression of the border memorial: http://www.grenzdenkmal.com 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of German reunification. This should be taken as a sign of hope for Germany, Korea and the whole world and from the basis for further discussions. Questions about war and peace, migration and its causes, isolation and violence are unfortunately still very topical issues today. This project in Hötensleben gives you the opportunity to learn more about the time of the Iron Curtain and the division of Germany and to reflect on what peace means to you and how you can contribute to it. At the end, you will present your personal perspective on the topic of "peace" to the local villagers and discuss it with them. German speakers are therefore particularly welcome.

Location

Hötensleben is a little village with about 2,500 inhabitants. International workcamps have been taking place there for some 25 years, so local inhabitants are looking forward to welcome the volunteers. Many activities will be done together with locals, e.g. the voluntary fire brigade of Hötensleben. Volunteers should be interested in German contemporary history. We will work at and visit historical places and commemoration sites related to Germany’s history. You will be given bicycles so that you can be mobile in your free time and, for example, go to the swimming pool.

Accomodation

You will stay in the former village hall that is renovated now and includes several holiday apartments’. They offer a quite comfortable stay and ensure enough room for everyone. There are different sleeping rooms with beds provided and a good equipped kitchen as well. Wifi-acess is limited. Bear in mind that the ground floor of the building is used for different activites during the week, and don’t be scared if you see some unfamiliar faces roaming around! Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Requirements

Please add a short motivation letter to your application, describing your interest in this special project. You should be able to ride a bicycle!

Meeting point

Meeting point will be the bus stop “ZOB, Schöningen”. Your campleaders will arrange several pick-ups from there (probably between 4pm and 9pm). To reacht the meeting point please use bus No 370 from Helmstedt train station. For connections from anywhere to “ZOB, Schöningen”, please check www.bahn.com .

Work

We invite 12 international volunteers to help continue the construction of the Celtic housing complex in Bopfingen. So far, seven workcamp groups, local volunteers of the community of Bopfingen and a team of professional craftsmen have been working on the three houses of the Celtic housing complex. Your task will be to continue the work there by finishing the walls and floors. The working place is set on the top of the hill “Ipf”, so you will be working outside a lot with a wonderful view over the region. All the materials you work with are natural materials like clay, wood, and stone. The work will be led by a professional instructor, so no previous experience is needed. Expect manual work! You will work around 30 hours per week, somewhere between 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday with a 1-2 hour lunchbreak.

Partner

The town of Bopfingen invites an international workcamp for the seventh time this year! A couple years back, researchers found archaeological evidence from the Celtic people that used to live here thousands of years ago in the Iron Age. The town’s project for the next years is to rebuild some of the houses in Celtic style to show tourists how the Celts may have lived in this area. By participating to this project you contribute to protecting the local cultural heritage in a sustainable way (UN SDG 9 and 11). You will also be part of the strong partnership between international volunteers and this project in Bopfingen, as international workcamps have helped with building the complex almost every year.

Location

Bopfingen is a small town in southern Germany. It has a beautiful centre with a lot of houses in old German style. What makes Bopfingen special is the hill next to the town which is called “Ipf” with its flat plateau on the top. The “Ipf” has an important historical meaning in this area. In former times, the Celts lived there and until today a lot of archaeologists and historians come to explore the region. It is surrounded by beautiful nature where you can go for a walk or hike. Around Bopfingen, you will find various museums, the romantic historic city of Nördlingen, and the Ries (a large circular meteor impact crater with a diameter of 24 km). If you would like to visit a bigger city, Ulm is not far away with its famous cathedral and the highest church tower in the world.

Accomodation

You will be staying at a local gym hall at about 10 minutes walking distance from the city centre and 15 minutes from the train station. You will all sleep in the very big main room of the gym hall. Camp beds are provided but please bring your own sleeping bag! In the gym hall there is also a kitchen which you can use for cooking, tables and chairs, different toilets which can be separated by gender and one bathroom with one shower. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Meeting point

Please, try and arrive at “Bopfingen” train station between 1pm and 7pm on July 19th. Find the best connection on the German railway company's website: https://www.bahn.com/en

Work

Background: Amphibians are among the most endangered native animal species groups. Of the 20 native amphibian species found in Germany, only 6 species are not endangered according to the current Red List. In some regions, some have already disappeared. In order to preserve these fascinating animals in the long term, habitat protection is no longer sufficient. For this reason, conservation breeding of particularly endangered species is becoming increasingly important. In this way, the species can be preserved in the long term under controlled conditions and also be available as donor populations for reintroduction projects. Project objective: Construction of an outdoor facility for keeping and breeding endangered amphibian species For the nature-identical keeping of amphibians, the construction of a spacious outdoor terrarium makes sense. Only in the open air are the animals exposed to the effects of the weather and seasons in the same way as in the wild, but they are protected from their natural enemies. In order to create a near-natural habitat, it is necessary to provide all sub-habitats such as the summer habitat, the reproduction water and a hibernation area. In addition, a species-appropriate design with hiding places, natural vegetation and basking areas is required. The common goal is to build an open-air terrarium of more than 200 m² under expert guidance and to produce the interior furnishings. The interior design is of particular interest. The design for the target species yellow-bellied toad, tree frog and midwife toad must be planned together. The area is then jointly modeled and equipped with typical biotope props. This includes the construction of one or more spawning ponds and a hibernation site as well as the provision of daytime hiding places made of stone layers, dry stone walls, wood piles and rootstocks. These must be placed according to the requirements of the species being cultivated and combined with suitable natural planting. The first inhabitants can be introduced once the enclosure has been successfully established.

Partner

The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education. Follow us on Instagram ijgd_workcamps Facebook @ijgd.workcamps

Location

camp location: Rehlingen-Siersburg, Saarland; 40 km northwest of Saarbrücken; Trier, Luxembourg and Metz 60 km each

Accomodation

You will be accommodated in a Niedtalhalle, with a kitchen, sufficient sanitary facilities, a large dining area and the gym as a sleeping area. You cook together. You will be provided with money for shopping. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.

Meeting point

Siersburg, arrival latest till 8pm You will receive more information after your confirming registration with the specigic infosheet for your project.

Work

Participants will also have to do various manual tasks to prepare the area around the arena. Gardening work is included Working time will be about 2-5 hours daily, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.

Partner

Host organisation is the community of Weingarten/Pfalz and the sports club: Sportverein Weingarten 2007 e.V. near Germersheim.It is a workcamp including German language training. The lectures will be daily, two hours per day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays, when the group will go on excursions). The basis of the lecture will be first: communication; and second: grammar. The teachers will be speakers from University of Mainz. The language courses of 2016-2019 and 2023-2024 have all shown very good results.The volunteers are assigned to 3 language courses. Therefore, indicate your language skill in your CV.A) Beginner knowledge required, so that they can communicate in German with the other group members. Improvement of the existing skills is one of the goals of this course.B) Good German knowledge required (B2/C1) - German for Engineers as specialty. This is a rare course - you don t find it elsewhere.C) Very good German knowledge required (C1). Improvement of the very good skills is one of the goals of this course.For all participants a training for writing and presenting applications at companies and universities is included.

Location

The Arena in Weingarten is close to Germersheim and Speyer, 50 km southwest of Heidelberg. It has 20.000 inhabitants, including 3.000 students. There is also the study center for Digital Engineering of the university of applied science Kaiserslautern. Weingarten itself has a nice Arena with sports facilities. One of our goals is that the volunteers participate in sport activities of the SV Weingarten. The camp is located approx. 10 km away from the city centre of Speyer and Germersheim. Please look at the map, there are about 15 Weingartens in Germany. Please travel to Weingarten in Pfalz Terminal: bus station Weingarten/Pfalz and train station Lingenfeld; next airports:Karlsruhe/Baden, Frankfurt/Main, Stuttgart, Strasbourg/Alsace. The German federal and state governments have agreed on a way to fund the 58-euro Deutschlandticket for 2025. This means that this summer it is very cheap to travel all over Germany. In 2023 and 2024 this has been used by almost all participants to save money while traveling in July and August in Germany. It is also possible to arrive one or 2 days earlier so that you can reduce your travel costs.One goal is that the volunteers participate in sports activities. We plan sports activities, which consist for example of football training, swimming, gymnastics and tennis. These sports courses are open for all participants. Therefore, bring your preferred sports equipment e.g. swimming, football, tennis, gymnastics etc. with youTravelling and sightseeing tours will be mostly in the region Rhein/Neckar. Also to some companies like Mercedes and SAP.

Accomodation

Accommodation will be in the main building of the Arena with several bedrooms (6-13 beds in each), kitchen, separated bathrooms and showers. Cooking, cleaning, shopping etc. will be done by the group itself. Like in each workcamp, accommodation, food and travel-costs for excursions are free, as well as materials/copies needed for the lectures.

Requirements

Extra fee includes language course and most activities: 200 Euro to be paid upon arrival (or to be transferred in advance).Please send your CV in the Europass format to your sending organisation

Meeting point

Weingarten Bus stop via Lingenfeld train station; details will be given later.

Descrizione

Lohra Castle, with its centuries-old architecture and vast natural surroundings, is not only a site of historical significance but also a living, functioning place that requires continuous care and attention. This workcamp offers volunteers the opportunity to actively contribute to the sustainable management of the castle, ensuring that its grounds remain accessible, welcoming, and well preserved. While this workcamp does not involve hands-on heritage conservation interventions, it plays an equally essential role in the long-term care of the site, allowing future visitors and guests to experience and appreciate Lohra Castle as a harmoniously maintained historic and natural space. Beyond the practical tasks, the workcamp offers a unique and immersive experience. When the castle closes its doors to the public in the evenings, it becomes the volunteers' home, a place where they can experience the privilege of inhabiting a medieval site. In this way, they take on the role of stewards, caring for the space as if it were their own. The experience encourages a sense of responsibility, ownership, and connection to heritage, reinforcing the idea that heritage sites thrive not only through large-scale restoration projects but also through the daily care and attention given to them by those who value their existence.

Work

The volunteers will engage in seasonal maintenance tasks, including mowing and collecting overgrown grass, clearing organic material from public areas, and ensuring that the castle’s open spaces remain well-kept. These tasks are crucial for the aesthetic and functional upkeep of the historic ensemble, preserving the visual integrity of the castle and its surroundings. The work also extends to the general maintenance of communal spaces and halls, contributing to the overall experience of visitors who use the castle for cultural events, educational programmes, and retreats. The income generated from these activities is directly reinvested into the castle’s conservation and educational projects, meaning that the work of volunteers directly supports heritage preservation efforts, even if not through conservation itself.

Partner

Despite its historical significance, Lohra Castle was abandoned for several decades, leading to neglect and structural deterioration. In the 1990s, the site was rediscovered and revitalised through the efforts of Open Houses, which has since used the castle as a base for heritage conservation, cultural initiatives, and international collaboration. Today, it serves as a centre for hands-on restoration projects organised by Open Houses ́ daughter organisation European Heritage Volunteers, as well as training courses organised by partner educational institutions, and volunteer-driven maintenance efforts such as this workcamp, welcoming participants from across the world to engage with its unique built heritage.

Location

Lohra Castle, located in northern Thuringia, Germany, stands as one of the region’s most representative medieval fortifications located in the vicinity of important trade routes that connected the medieval world of central Europe. Though its present form is modest, the castle continues to command a striking position within the hilly landscape near a natural reserve. With a history spanning over a thousand years, the site reflects multiple layers of architectural evolution, shaped by shifting political, economic, and social contexts over the centuries. The architectural ensemble of Lohra Castle presents a rich assortment of historical styles, with elements dating back to the 11th century. Among its most remarkable features is a Romanesque double-floored chapel from the 12th century, an exceptional structure that highlights early medieval religious architecture. Traces of medieval fortifications and towers, as well as a Renaissance-era manor house, further illustrate the site’s transformation from a medieval defensive stronghold into a more residential and agricultural complex. The projects of Open Houses are based on sustainable principles, ensuring that Lohra Castle is maintained not just as a historical monument but as a living environment where culture and nature coexist. The castle is surrounded by a vast natural protected area, making its preservation an effort that combines aspects of cultural and natural heritage conservation. Through their contributions, volunteers help safeguard the balance between history and nature, keeping Lohra Castle a welcoming place for future generations of visitors, researchers, and heritage enthusiasts.

Accomodation

shared rooms with 2 – 5 beds in 3 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water), 1 camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stoves

Meeting point

Next towns: Bleicherode (6 km), Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (75 km) Region: Thuringia Next bus station: Großlohra, Friedrichslohra/Wartehalle Next railway stations: Gebra/Hainleite (5 km), Wolkramshausen (12 km). Next airports: Leipzig/Halle (LEJ, 155 km), Frankfurt/Main (FRA, 280 km), Berlin (BER, 300 km)

Work

Re:nember them! In this workcamp you can get involved in the preservation of the former Nazi women's concentration camp Ravensbrück. Study part: Join us for the first week to get to know the Ravensbrück Memorial and its history. We will deal intensively and artistically with biographies of imprisoned women and survivors who were imprisoned in the Ravensbrück concentration camp and afterwards in the subcamp Waldbaulager, which is part of the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Work part: Various maintenance works in the exterior of the memorial and the collections.

Partner

The former women's concentration camp Ravensbrück was built in 1939 near the small town of Fürstenberg/Havel. Until its liberation in April 1945, over 120,000 women and children, 20,000 men and 1,000 underage young women from the so-called "Uckermark Youth Protection Camp" were imprisoned there. The prisoners came from more than 40 nations. They had to perform forced labor in various sectors, e.g. for SS factories or the Siemens company. Their daily lives were marked by hunger, mistreatment and poor hygienic conditions. Tens of thousands of prisoners were killed. Today, the Ravensbrück Memorial preserves traces and records, promotes remembering and research, and creates a place for active learning and encounters. Every year, international work camps are organized in cooperation with the memorial. www.ravensbrueck-sbg.de

Location

Brandenburg small town in lake and river landscape, possibility of canoeing, cycling and swimming, by train in one hour in Berlin and train connection to the Baltic Sea.

Accomodation

You will live in a shared rooms in the youth hostel on the grounds of the memorial in the former houses of the concentration camp wardens. Full board, simple meals. Please indicate food allergies, etc. when registering.

Meeting point

You can use googlemaps to navigate yourself to the hostel: Str. d. Nationen 3, 16798 Fürstenberg/Havel